Articles about book crime showing spirit (8)

I believe the answer is:

absinthe

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'spirit' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.

'articles about book crime' is the wordplay.
'articles' becomes 'athe' ('a' and 'the', indefinite and definite articles).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'book' becomes 'b' (abbreviation for book).
'crime' becomes 'sin'.
'b'+'sin'='bsin'
'athe' enclosing 'bsin' is 'ABSINTHE'.

'showing' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for absinthe that I've seen before include "Liqueur originally containing wormwood" , "Aniseed flavoured liqueur" , "alcohol" , "Bathes in strong liquour, strangely" , "Strong green liqueur, lethal when made with wormwood" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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